Tumor Stroma Interactions group excels at iwCLL 2023

Top Ranking Abstract Award attributed to team’s work

• Tumor Stroma Interactions
• Department of Cancer Research

Tumor Stroma Interaction’s ground breaking study, “Targeting Translation Initiation as Novel Therapeutic in CLL,” earned them the prestigious Top-Ranking Abstract award at the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, while their research on extracellular vesicles in the CLL microenvironment was also recognized, showcasing their innovative contributions to CLL research.

The biennial International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) is the leading conference for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) worldwide. The event aims to present the most up-to-date results emerging from clinic- and laboratory-based research about the pathobiology and treatment of CLL, focusing on the development, progression, treatment, and evolution of CLL. This year’s conference was held in Boston and gathered more than 1500 people, including the main experts in the field.

Tumor Stroma Interactions Dr Jérôme Paggetti, Dr Anne Largeot and Dr Etienne Moussay submitted an abstract, which was selected for a 10-minute talk at the conference, presented by Dr Moussay. The work on the revolutionary study titled “Targeting Translation Initiation as Novel Therapeutic in CLL,” earned the prestigious Top-Ranking Abstract award, highlighting the innovative and impactful research carried out by the group.

The study unveiled ground breaking insights into the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). It explored the possibility of targeting translation initiation as a novel therapeutic strategy for this challenging disease. CLL cells rely heavily on their microenvironment for growth and survival, with micro environmental factors triggering an increase in translation, particularly of specific transcripts like the MYC oncogene. This enhanced translation represents a vulnerability in cancer cells and is observed in various tumour types.

Dr Paggetti was also invited as a faculty to deliver a 15-minute presentation on the impact of extracellular vesicles on the CLL microenvironment, based on the research conducted by Gargiulo et al. and published in Blood Cancer Discovery in 2023.

The recognition of this research at iwCLL 2023 is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of the team. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the understanding and treatment of CLL.

commented Dr Paggetti.